Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy received a shock on Wednesday when a teenager punched him in the face during a campaign rally.
Spain’s PM is only a few days away from a general election. On a stop in Pontevedra, a 17 year old in the crowd put his hand on the PM’s shoulder as if to get his attention. The teenager then punched Rajoy in the face, breaking his glasses and knocking him off his feet.
Rajoy sported red marks on his face and neck after the beating, but they subsided eventually.
The prime minister’s security detail quickly subdued the teen, although he reportedly landed a blow on one of them too.
“I’m very happy I did it,” the teen reportedly told police.
Agradezco de corazón las muestras de afecto y solidaridad que me estáis haciendo llegar esta tarde. Sigamos trabajando. MR
— Mariano Rajoy Brey (@marianorajoy) December 16, 2015
Translation:
“Heartfelt thanks for the displays of affection and solidarity I’ve received this afternoon,” Rajoy later wrote on Twitter. “Let’s keep working.”